Related Links

Palm Coast man places blame of shooting on another, investigators say

JULIE MURPHY, Staff writer

Published: Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 12:22 p.m.

PALM COAST -- Investigators say the Palm Coast man accused of gunning down the father of his "off and on" girlfriend tried to blame the shooting on an unsuspecting friend, according to a Flagler County sheriff's report.

William Copeland, 20, was being sought Friday after investigators determined it was him and not his friend who pulled the trigger at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, sending three bullets into the Leidel Drive home of Accursio Venezia, according to the report.

Venezia, 41, was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach after suffering a single gunshot wound to his chest. Though his injury was not believed to be life-threatening, his condition was unavailable Friday.ll change that if I hear back>

The family was asleep when the doorbell rang awakening Copeland's girlfriend, Corina Venezia, 19, and her father, the report states. When they heard gunshots, they ran upstairs but the elder Venezia discovered he had been shot.

The Venezias called 9-1-1 and deputies stationed themselves outside Copeland's Bunker View Drive home, according to the report. A dark-colored Jeep pulled into the driveway and all three occupants, including Copeland, were "immediately secured" for questioning.

The driver of the Jeep and a female passenger told investigators the same story: Copeland had asked to be taken to within walking distance of Venezia's house, where Copeland got out "wearing some kind of bag attached to the front of (him)" and asked the driver to wait.

After 15 or 20 minutes, Copeland ran back to the Jeep and said, "Man, did you hear those shots?" Copeland then asked to be taken to a McDonald's where he got out and handed his bag to another man the driver of the Jeep didn't know, the report states.

When Copeland was questioned, he said he had asked to be taken to see a friend named Joey but no one answered the door at Joey's home, the report states. Copeland said he heard three gunshots in the distance as he was walking back to the Jeep.

Copeland told investigators he then asked to be taken to McDonald's to meet a friend named Matt, whom he owed money, the report states. He said the bag he handed off to "Matt" contained video games and a controller.

Copeland also told investigators he believed his friend, Anthony Wiggins, had shot Venezia, according to the report. Copeland said Wiggins was with him earlier in the day when he received a call from the elder Venezia, who Copeland said was yelling and screaming at him. Copeland said Wiggins offered to "take care of that (expletive deleted) for you," the report states.

Copeland also led investigators to a spot that was different from where the Jeep's driver said they had been parked, according to the report.

Investigators interviewed Wiggins on Thursday, the report states, and he confirmed he had met Copeland at McDonald's the night before and that Copeland asked him to hold on to the bag. Wiggins turned over the bag, which contained a .32-caliber handgun, to investigators.

Deputies, using a K-9 unit, tracked Copeland from the Venezias' home through the golf course to the spot where the driver of the Jeep said he had parked, according to the report.

Earlier Wednesday, deputies had responded to the Venezias' home after family members said Copeland had called and threatened to kill the family on the front lawn, the report states.

Copeland twice served time in jail for violation of an injunction for protection filed by Corina Venezia, but she later dropped the injunction, the report states.

Anyone with information about Copeland, who is considered armed and dangerous, is asked to contact the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911.

<p><p>PALM COAST -- Investigators say the Palm Coast man accused of gunning down the father of his "off and on" girlfriend tried to blame the shooting on an unsuspecting friend, according to a Flagler County sheriff's report. </p></p><p><p>William Copeland, 20, was being sought Friday after investigators determined it was him and not his friend who pulled the trigger at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, sending three bullets into the Leidel Drive home of Accursio Venezia, according to the report. </p></p><p><p>Venezia, 41, was airlifted to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach after suffering a single gunshot wound to his chest. Though his injury was not believed to be life-threatening, his condition was unavailable Friday.ll change that if I hear back> </p></p><p><p>The family was asleep when the doorbell rang awakening Copeland's girlfriend, Corina Venezia, 19, and her father, the report states. When they heard gunshots, they ran upstairs but the elder Venezia discovered he had been shot. </p></p><p><p>The Venezias called 9-1-1 and deputies stationed themselves outside Copeland's Bunker View Drive home, according to the report. A dark-colored Jeep pulled into the driveway and all three occupants, including Copeland, were "immediately secured" for questioning. </p></p><p><p>The driver of the Jeep and a female passenger told investigators the same story: Copeland had asked to be taken to within walking distance of Venezia's house, where Copeland got out "wearing some kind of bag attached to the front of (him)" and asked the driver to wait. </p></p><p><p>After 15 or 20 minutes, Copeland ran back to the Jeep and said, "Man, did you hear those shots?" Copeland then asked to be taken to a McDonald's where he got out and handed his bag to another man the driver of the Jeep didn't know, the report states. </p></p><p><p>When Copeland was questioned, he said he had asked to be taken to see a friend named Joey but no one answered the door at Joey's home, the report states. Copeland said he heard three gunshots in the distance as he was walking back to the Jeep. </p></p><p><p>Copeland told investigators he then asked to be taken to McDonald's to meet a friend named Matt, whom he owed money, the report states. He said the bag he handed off to "Matt" contained video games and a controller. </p></p><p><p>Copeland also told investigators he believed his friend, Anthony Wiggins, had shot Venezia, according to the report. Copeland said Wiggins was with him earlier in the day when he received a call from the elder Venezia, who Copeland said was yelling and screaming at him. Copeland said Wiggins offered to "take care of that (expletive deleted) for you," the report states. </p></p><p><p>Copeland also led investigators to a spot that was different from where the Jeep's driver said they had been parked, according to the report. </p></p><p><p>Investigators interviewed Wiggins on Thursday, the report states, and he confirmed he had met Copeland at McDonald's the night before and that Copeland asked him to hold on to the bag. Wiggins turned over the bag, which contained a .32-caliber handgun, to investigators. </p></p><p><p>Deputies, using a K-9 unit, tracked Copeland from the Venezias' home through the golf course to the spot where the driver of the Jeep said he had parked, according to the report. </p></p><p><p>Earlier Wednesday, deputies had responded to the Venezias' home after family members said Copeland had called and threatened to kill the family on the front lawn, the report states. </p></p><p><p>Copeland twice served time in jail for violation of an injunction for protection filed by Corina Venezia, but she later dropped the injunction, the report states. </p></p><p><p>Anyone with information about Copeland, who is considered armed and dangerous, is asked to contact the Flagler County Sheriff's Office at 386-313-4911. </p></p><p>-----</p>